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World record for flying Friedrich in dramatic sprint qualifying session
Lea Sophie Friedrich watched rival after rival beating her flying 200m Olympic record from the Tokyo games – then not only reclaimed it, but snatched the world record too. The German posted a time of 10.029, then watched anxiously as Emma Hinze, Emma Finucane and Kelsey Mitchell went close, but couldn’t go faster. In all,…
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World champ Andrews upgrades to Olympic gold in Paris keirin
New Zealand’s Ellesse Andrews turned Olympic silver in Tokyo into Parisian gold, with victory in the women’s keirin final. Starting from first position, directly behind the pacer, reigning world champion Andrews was overlapped by Mexico’s Gaxiola as racing got properly underway. But she stayed calm and reclaimed the front with two laps to go. Then…
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Two British women in the Olympic final, but no Gros for French fans
Great Britain are the only nation to get two riders into the final of the women’s keirin at the Paris 2024 Olympics. Emma Finucane needed a photo to reach the final, where she is joined by Katy Marchant. But Germany’s Emma Hinze will not be joined by Lea Sophie Friedrich, after a touch of wheels.…
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Lavreysen sets new world record for 200m in Olympic qualifying
Three riders beat the existing Olympic record, and two beat the world record, as the male sprinters laid down some amazing times during Wednesday’s Flying 200 qualifying session for the match sprint competition. But the UCI record book (er… is there still an actual book?) will show that only Harrie Lavreysen set a new world…
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Kouamé and Bayona miss out on day one of Paris keirin
World champion Martha Bayona and home favourite Taky Marie Divine Kouamé were the big names not to make it to day two of the women’s keirin competition at the Paris Olympics. Riders needed a first or second place finish in either the opening round or the repechages, to make it through to the quarter final…
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Can DerbyWheel capitalise before the Olympic flame goes out?
(EDITORIAL) Welcome to the few days every four years when the wider sporting public is exposed to the thrills of keirin racing. Is DerbyWheel ready to exploit the opportunity? Legendary gymnast Simone Biles said it perfectly, a few days ago. ‘You guys really gotta stop asking athletes what’s next after they win a medal at…
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Will we see world records broken at the Paris velodrome?
There are rumours in track cycling circles that sprinters have been laying down some spectacular times during practice sessions at the Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines velodrome, ahead of this week’s Olympic events. Global Keirin has heard suggestions of several men getting close to the 9.100 flying 200 metre world record, set by Nicholas Paul at 2019’s Pan American…
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Athletics legend Michael Johnson plans startup sports series
Keirin cycling isn’t the only Olympic-focused sport seeking to reinvent itself with a mass-audience, narrative-driven, regular-season concept. Legendary American 200m and 400m runner Michael Johnson is behind a new initiative, Grand Slam Track which promises to fill the four-year gap between Olympic Games. Following the models of tennis and golf, the new series will run…
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DerbyWheel CEO: we don’t want a war, but UCI won’t even meet with us
DerbyWheel CEO James Pope says he doesn’t want to go to war with the UCI – but at present, the world cycling governing body is refusing even to have a meeting with the start-up keirin competition. ‘It was never our desire to be on the UCI calendar,’ Pope told the Roadman Podcast. ‘We are not…
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Nigeria’s Ukpeseraye gets Egypt’s place in Olympic keirin
Nigeria will receive the African continent’s quota place in the women’s sprint and keirin events at the Paris Olympics, following the withdrawal of Egypt’s nominated rider. Shahd Saeed was suspended following an incident at the end of the Egyptian elite women’s championship road race in April, when she was deemed to have forced a rival…
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Lavreysen and Finucane favourites for Olympic gold
Bookmakers believe world no1 Harrie Lavreysen is destined for gold in the men’s keirin on the final day of the Paris Olympics. The Dutch star is an odds-on favourite, 8/11 with a number of online gambling sites, according to data gathered by the UK’s Oddschecker. Japan’s Kaiya Ota is second favourite, 9/2 with all sites,…
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Keirin at Paris 2024: event format, race times and entry lists
The men’s and women’s keirin competitions at the 2024 Olympics will take place over two successive days: August 7 & 8 for the women, August 10 & 11 for the men. In each case, the first day consists of first round and repechage races. The quarters, semis and finals all take place in quick succession…
